USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 39
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A O. HORNE, the leading merchant of Manchaca, Travis county, was born in Lawrence county, Alabama. December 5, 1831, a son of A. O. and Elizabeth (Thornbrongh) Horne, of German and Irish descent. The first of the Horne family in America came in Colonial times, settling in Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our sub- ject, William Horne, was a soldier during the seven years of the Revolutionary war, and was married to a Miss Ogden, a member of the family of that name since quite promin- ent in this country, and a relative of Judge Ogden. of San Antonio. The father of our subject was born in east Tennessee, in 1793; was married in Lawrence county, Alabama,
[ in 1840; removed to Illinois; shortly after- ward to Johnson county, Missouri, and in 1846 to Austin, Texas, where he lived con- tinnonsly until his death, July 1, 1876. The mother departed this life in 1865. During his residence in Alabama Mr. Horne was a member of the Legislature, and, although a licensed lawyer, never practiced his profes- sion, preferring to engage in educational work, having tanght school the most of his life. Ile was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Horne were the parents of ten children, seven of whom grew to years of maturity, viz .: Will- iam T., who died the same year as his father, was for a number of years a physician of Aus- tin; James A., deceased in 1849, was also a physician of that city; Sarah O. married Leander Brown, a prominent citizen of Aus- tin, and both are now deceased; Malcom G., a farmer of Hill county, Texas; Archibald, deceased; Jonathan B., deceased; and A. O., the subject of this sketch.
The latter grew to manhood in Texas, and received an ordinary English education. At the opening of the Civil war, not being a be- liever in that struggle, he obtained a detail to make salt; but in April, 1865, he joined the Second Texas Cavalry, United States Vol- unteers, at New Orleans, and served until November, 1865. He was probably the last man wounded in the war, having received a ball in the thigh in the engagement at Pal- metto ranch, on Rio Grande river. This bat- tle occurred after the surrender of both Lee and Johnston.
Alter the close of hostilities, Mr. Horne was engaged in business for a time in Austin, then at Prairie Lea, Caldwell county. then spent some time in the State Comptroller's office, and next was engaged as chief clerk in the State Treasurer's office, until the State
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went Democratic, in 1874. when he entered ! the Internal Revenue service in February. 1×79. as storekeeper and ganger at Waco, Texas; was ordered to take charge of the San Antonio Division of the Third Internal Rev- enne District of Texas in June, 1879; in 1881. ordered to the home office at Anstin, Texas, where he was chief clerk from July, 1882, until the office was turned over to President Cleveland, elected in 1884. In 1886 he began merchandising in this eity, and the firm of Horne & Son now carry a general stock amounting to $10,000.
Mr. Horne was married in Caldwell county, December 5, 1867, to Mary C. Dougherty. They have had two sons: Louis, who gradn- ated at the Texas University in the class of 1889, with the degree of B. L., is now en- gaged in business with his father; and Ilarri- son, deceased in infancy. Mr. Horne sym- pathizes with the Republican party in politi- cal matters; socially, is a member of the Odd Fellows, and religiously has been an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for thirty years.
E U. KIMBRO, one of the leading farmers of Williamson county, was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, November 20, 1833, a son of Daniel and Polly (Gilbert) Kimbro, early settlers of South Carolina. The maternal grandmother of our subject, Cynthia P. Brown, was a na- tive of Ohio. Both the paternal and ma-
ternal grandfathers took part in the war for independence, the paternal family having re- sided near Guilford Conrt Ilouse at that time. Daniel Kimbro moved with his father to Tennessee when only four years of age, locating in Bedford county, where he was
reared; he married Mary Gilbert of Tennes .. see. At that place he was engaged at the mechanic's trade.
In 1836, via New Orleans, he came to San Augustine county, Texas, and in the spring of 1837, in company with several other fami- lies, John Glasscock and Taylor Smith being among the number, he located in the town of Bastrop. There he erected a shop for the purpose of making looms, spinning-wheels, chairs, wagons, ete., which was the first shop established in the town, and many of the articles made there are still to be found in the connty. Among the families living in this county on Mr. Kimbro's arrival and set- tling here soon afterward are: Mr. Tatum, who erected the first gristmill; a Mr. Gamble, the first hotel man; Mr. Bissell, a merchant; Robert and Bill Readon, also merchants; a Mr. Castleman, and the Wells family. The Indians were then quite troublesome, and the settlers erected a fort on the banks of the river. Mr. Kimbro was in many expeditions against the Indians, was a member of the company who participated in the Mexican wars, and had many narrow escapes from death. IIe resided in Bastrop county until the fall of 1846, when he located on the creek known as Brushy, then in Milam, now Williamson county, where his nearest neigh- bors were five and eight miles distant. Mill- ing was done at Anstin and Bastrop, the former a distance of twenty-five miles. While there Mr. Kimbro was engaged in farming and at the mechanic's trade. He made the celebrated Kimbro stirrup for saddles, and was one of the most celebrated shots in the State. His death occurred in this county in 1882, his wife having died abont 1851. They were the parents of six children, five of whom grew to years of maturity: E. U., our sub- jeet; Garrett, deceased; Netbera E., wife of
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John T. Price, of Travis county; Venary, deceased; and C. M., a resident of Arkansas.
E. U. Kimbro, the subject of this sketch, came to this State at the age of four years, and from infancy was obliged to rely upon himself for protection against wild beasts and wilder and more dangerous foes, the red men of the West. At the age of eighteen years he began hauling lumber for the second State capitol at Austin, and at the age of . twenty-one years engaged in raising cattle and horses. In 1861 he located near where Taylor now stands. In 1862 Mr. Kimbro joined a company of militia for the late war, later became a member of Colonel Easley's company, Colonel W. L. Mann's regiment of cavalry, served on the island of Galveston, and surrendered at Galveston. After returning home he found most of his stoek gone, and recovered only about one-half of his original number. In 1867 he removed to Travis county, for the purpose of educating his danghters at Parsons' Seminary; spent four years at Georgetown, and in 1891 came to Taylor, Williamson county. He owns a beautiful residence in this city, and has three good farms in Williamson county, 450 acres of which is cultivated.
Mr. Kimbro was married, at the age of twenty-five years, to Miss Lucinda Avery, a daughter of Willis and Elzana (Weeks) Avery, natives of North Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively. The parents moved to Missouri when young, where they were after- ward married. In 1832 they came with Austin's first colony to Bastrop county, where Mr. Avery engaged in farming and stock- raising. He was in many campaigns against the Indians; participated in the battle of San Jacinto, and also took part in the engagement fought by the settlers on what was called Map Battle Creek, near where Taylor now stands, | farmer and stock-raiser, possessed some
where four of the leading citizens were killed -Jake Burleson, Daniel Gilliland, Captain Walters and a Mr. Blakey. The first squad of thirty. which attacked the I- dians were repulsed, and on returning were met by Captain Ed Burleson, and they again opened fire. Both Indians and whites camped on the battlefield that night, but in the morning the Indians had vanished. Mr. and Mrs. Avery had the following children: Nancy, widow of William Bryant; Malinda, deceased; Vincent R. C., and W. T., of Will- iamson connty ; Lucinda, wife of our subject; Willis, deceased; Henry, of Mills county, Texas; John C., of Llano county; and Har- riet, wife of Thomas Christian. The wife and mother died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Kimbro have had five children: H. Fredonia, wife of R. B. Pomphrey; Josephine, wife of G. M. Kirkendall; Kate, at home; Edwin, de- ceased; and Henry, of this connty. Mr. and Mrs. Kimbro are members of the Missionary Baptist Clinrch, and the former also affiliates with the A. F. & A. M.
AMES C. ELLIOTT, hotel-keeper and lumber merchant of Thorndale, Milam connty, is a native of Tennessee, born in 1839, and is a son of Robert L. and Mary Eliza Elliott, who were natives, the father of Tennessee, born in 1810, and the mother of Alabama. His parents were married in Alabama, in 1837, and moved in 1848 to Texas, making their first stop in Cherokee county, whence they moved to Caldwell county, and later to Bell county. The father died in the year 1864, in Williamson county. near Corn Hill, the mother having died in Bell county in 1852. The father was a
F. F. Allison
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
means, led a quiet, uneventful life and died : in 1890, which he is now running, in con- in the esteem of those among whom his life neetion with the Inmber business. Besides his farm he owns property in Thorndale and a very good hotel and lumber trade in that płace. had been passed. Ile was three times mar- ried, first to Parmelia Blair, who died child- less; secondly to the mother of the subject of this sketch, and thirdly to Elizabeth Teague, June 17, 1868, Mr. Elliott married Miss Sarah E. Mills, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Mills, who moved to Texas, from Mis- sonri, and by this nnion he had six children: Joseph,; Thomas R .; Ida, deceased; Minnie; Jennie, and Willis Burton. who bore him four children. Mary Eliza Elliott, second wife of Robert L. Elliott and mother of James C. Elliott, was a danghter of Robert C. Reed, who was a prosperous Alabama planter and herself a lady of pious Christian life. She was the mother of seven Mr. Elliott has filled the usual number of local offices in his neighborhood; is independ- ent in politics, but a member of the Alliance and Grange, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. children, of whom the subject of this notice is the second in age. IIer eldest child was Henry B., who died after reaching manhood; Martha I. is the wife of Joli M. Roberts of Bell county, Texas; Thomas, who died in the Confederate army in 1862: William N. died after reaching manhood; Richard is a resi- dent of McCulloch county, this State; and Mary, who died at about the age of twenty- two, unmarried.
James C. Elliott was ten years old when his parents moved to this State. His youth was passed in Cherokee, Caldwell and Bell connties. In 1861 he entered the Confeder- ate army, enlisting in Company K, First Texas Cavalry, with which he served during the war, mostly in Louisiana and Texas, being mneh of the time on the skirmish line be- tween the Union and Confederate lines. He took part in the series of engagements fol- lowing Banks' Red river campaign and sur- rendered at Natehitoches, Louisiana, in May, 1865. Returning home he was engaged in driving stock until 1868, when he married and settled on a farm in Milam county, six miles south of Thorndale, where for fifteen years he was engaged in farming. In 1853 he moved to Thorndale and engaged in the hotel business, returning to his farm in about eighteen months, but taking the hotel again
F. ALLISON, a farmer and pioneer of Williamson county, was born in Hardeman county, Tennessee, July 29, 1830, a son of Elislia C. and Margaret M. (Neely) Allison, natives of Virginia and South Carolina respectively. The father was a son of Jolin Allison, a native of Virginia, and the latter's father, a Seotchman, was killed in the Revolutionary war. Jolin Alli- son learned the trade of blacksmithing in Virginia, was a prominent slave-owner, and moved to Tennessee. The father of our sub- jeet was reared in the latter State, and after coming to Williamson county, Texas, beeame a prominent land and slave owner. His death ocenrred in this county in 1871. The mother of our subject died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Allison were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, viz .: J. F., our subject ; Mary S., deceased, was the wife of E. Morris; Sarah J., wife of James J. Young: Elizabeth A., deceased, was the wife of II. Smith, Margaret, wife of
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W. J. Jamison; E. P., a farmer of Williamson connty; S. N., a farmer and ginner of this county; and R. C., also a farmer of William- sou county.
J. F. Allison came to Texas with his father and family in 1835, when only five years of age, settling in St. Angustine county. At the outbreak of the war the family went with many of the settlers to the State line, and after their return moved to Sabine county. In 1847 they came to Will- iamson county, and at that time only a few settlers were scattered through the county. Here on subject grew to manhood, cast his first vote, and paid his first taxes, The In- dians were scattered over the country, but were friendly, and game of all kinds was plentiful. In 1856 Mr. Allison built a log cabin near where he now lives, and at that time was principally engaged in the raising of horses. In 1862 he joined an independent company for service in the late war, but later became a member of Baylor's regiment, was detailed many different times for different work, and after the close of the struggle he resumed farming and stock-raising. At one time he owned 700 acres of land, but has since given to his children until he now has only the old homestead. His land is well improved, and he has a good, commodious residence.
Mr. Allison was married in 1856, to Miss Sarah A. Marsh, a native of Missouri and a danghter of Jolm and Elizabeth Marsh, natives of Kentucky. The father died in Missouri, and in 1850 the mother brought her family of seven children to Williamson county. Texas. Our subject and wife had seven children: Erastus A., a traveler by oeenpation ; Francis A., a farmer of William- son county; Elijah P., engaged in the rail- road shops at Temple; Samantha A., wife of
F. M. Utzmian, a merchant of Taylor. Mrs. Allison died in December, 1879, and Feb- ruary 9, 1881, Mr. Allison married Mrs. Virginia M. Blackburn, a daughter of John 11. and Mariah (Rogers) Ferguson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. The Rogers family came from England to America, locating in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson moved to St. Louis in an early day, witnessed nearly its complete development, and both died in that city, the father in 1864 and the mother in 1890. Mrs. Allison was married in St. Lonis to Mr. Blackburn and they had two sons, -Morris L ... of Cairo, Illinois, and Charles E., an engineer at Pueblo, Colorado. Mr. Allison established the post office at Connell, of which he was appointed Postmaster. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the Methodist Church.
A F. MARTIN, proprietor of the Aus- tin White Lime Works, is a self-made man, and one of the most prosper- ons and progressive citizens of Travis connty. He was born in the city of Anstin, October 8, 1856, and received his education here, in a German-American institution on Red River street. He was also a student at Dyrenforth's Commercial College, Chicago, finishing the course in 1871, before the great fire swept that city. The drug business presenting many attractions to Mr. Martin, he engaged as clerk to learn the business, but, his health failing him after abont two years, he made a change and secured a position as bookkeeper with the firm of II. J. Hnek & Co., lumber dealers, of Victoria, Texas. Upon leaving their employ, he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he secured a
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position as bookkeeper in a wholesale house, which he held for two years and a half. At this time he was offered the position of pay- ing and receiving teller in the private bank- ing house of A. P. Wooldridge, Austin, and served with eminent sneeess and satisfaction until he resigned, to engage in the lime manufacture, at Round Rock, and was there for a period of five years. He then formed a partnership with Mr. J. J. Walker, of Anstin, and established a business at McNeil, Travis county. They constructed kilns, having a capacity of 100 barrels a day, but since Mr. Walker's retirement, at the end of the first year, Mr. Martin has increased the capae- ity to 300 barrels daily, and now owne and operates the largest and most complete lime works in Texas. From twenty to fifty men are employed, and the trade extends through- ont the State of Texas, penetrating even the "Pan Handle," and demanding for its supply over 50,000 barrels annually. In addition to this industry, Mr. Martin condnets a general mereantile business, at MeNeil, carry- ing a general stock of dry-goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. Ilis works are very favor- ably located in regard to shipping facilities, being sitnated on the International & Great Northern, and the Houston & Texas Central Railroads. The general office of his business is at Austin, where he is also engaged in the sale of lime, eement, and other building material, his warehouses being located on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, near the freight depot.
Joseph Martin, father of A. F. Martin, was born in Baden Baden, Germany, and died in Austin, Texas, in 1870, at the age of sixty years. Ile was finely educated, being a grad- nate of one of Germany's universities. Ile emigrated to America in 1849, and came directly to Texas after landing, stopping at
Indianola. Hle secured a position as civil engineer with a company, locating a new railroad, and afterward was employed in the State Land Office as dranghtsman, a work for which he was peenliarly fitted, and which he continued to do until his death. He was married to Theresa IInek, a sister of II. J. Hnek, of Austin, and J. A. Hluek of Chicago. Mrs. Martin was born in Baden Baden, and eame to the United States a few years after her husband. She survives him, at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of five children: C. J., a grain merchant, of Austin; A. F., the subject of this notice; Laura, wife of Prof. Buckman, of the Alamo Business College; A. A., proprietor of the Capital City Cornice Works; and J. A., of Austin, a partner of C. J., in the grain busi- ness.
Mr. A. F. Martin was united in marriage, February 15, 1886, to Mary Agnes, a sister of S. V. Dooley, a citizen of Round Rock, Texas, but a native of Ireland; Mrs. Martin also was born on the Emerald Isle, in 1862. They are the parents of three children: Mary, Anna and Alberta, and are residents of Austin, Texas. Their residence is beautifully situated on one of the hills near the Con- federate Home, on West Sixth street, which he had built in the year 1889.
G. GORDON, a farmer of Williamson county, was born in Giles county, Ten- nessee, Angust 25, 1828, a son of An- drew and Eliza K. (Goff) Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Vir- ginia. The father was a son of Robert Gor- don, a native of Virginia, who removed to Kentucky in an early day. and later went to Tennessee. The maternal grandfather of
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our subject, Jolm Goff, was also a native of Virginia, came to Texas after the late war, and died here in 1866, aged ninety-two years. The father of our subject filled many minor ofliees of his county, was a farmer by occu- pation, and was a great hunter. After com- ing to this State he bought over 700 acres of land, of which he cultivated 225 acres, and was a slave owner. He died June 24, 1889. Ilis wife departed this life January 28, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were the parents of eleven children, viz .: Jane M., wife of W. A. Dauiel; Robert M., deceased at the age of six months; J. G., our subject; Mary J. married R. S. Wylie, and both are now de- ceased; Eliza K. married O. M. Lesueur; Andrew F., deceased in 1873; David M., who died in the army, in 1862; George W., a resident of Memphis, Tennessee; Sarah E., deceased in 1859; William II. II., who was killed during the war, May 27, 1864, at New Hope Church; and Nancy M., who married Thomas Lane. The children are all now de- ceased but our subject and G. W.
J. G. Gordon moved with his parents to Mississippi in 1843, and in 1853 came to Williamson county, Texas. In the following year he engaged in mercantile business in Austin, but sold his store at the opening of the late war. He was employed as Clerk in the Land Office from 1863 until the close of the struggle, after which he again engaged in merchandising, and in 1870 removed to his present farm in Williamson county, and also controls other tracts of land. He has sixty acres of his farm under a fine state of enltivation. When Mr. Gordon came to this locality it was but sparsely settled, and gante of all kinds was plentiful. He has always taken an active part in public affairs, served as County Treasurer of Travis county, was a candidate for the same office in this county.
has always supported the Democratic party, and is well posted on all general questions. In addition to his farming and other inter- ests, Mr. Gordon has also given some atten- tion to stock-raising and private surveying, and is an agent for the sale of lauds.
Ile was married at Austin, in 1862, to Miss L. R. Thompson, who was born in Nashville, Texas, September 26, 1838. a daughter of W. D. Thompson. a native of Georgia. The father came to Texas in 1831, was a soldier with Ward and Pease in 1837, and afterward became a large land owner of Anstin. He was a publie-spirited man, served in the Legislature of his State, and after the close of the late war returned to Burleson county, where he died in 1866. Ile was always a liberal contributor to churches, but was never a member of any denomination.
Mr. Thompson married Permelia A. Evans, a native of Tennessee. Her brother, D. J. Evans, is a resident of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had eight children: Alexander C., D. D., Ann C. (deceased), Lonisa R., Jasper M., Elizabeth R., Lucinda L. and Knox. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have had two children, -Harrison, deceased in October, 1870; and William A., attending school at Austin. Mr. Gordon was formerly a member of the Whig party, but since the war has been identified with the Democratic party.
S P. CROSLIN has been identified with the agricultural interests of William- sou county since 1881, when he re- moved from his native State to Texas. Ile was born in middle Tennessee July 8. 1836; there he grew to manhood iu Robertson, and received a limited education. At the age of
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eighteen years he became self-supporting, en- gaging in farming; he cultivated land on the shares for a period of three years, and then turned his attention to shoemaking, as he conelnded he would master a trade. At the end of twelve months, however, he returned to the plow and hoe, having purchased a a small farm, on which he resided eight years.
W. W. Croslin, his father, was born in Smith county, Tennessee, in 1805; he was a slave-owner, and was a moderately successful planter. He married Catharine Byrmin, a daughter of Simeon Byrum and one of a family of eleven children; her mother's maiden name was Stork. They had a family of five children : Tamar, wife of B. D. Hulsey; one child, who died in infancy; S. P., the subject of this notice; W. B .; and Sarah, de- ceased, who was the wife of S. T. Bell. The father died in 1844, and the mother was mar- ried a second time, being united to Anderson Jones; she died in April, 1865.
After a varied career in his native State S. P Crosiin came to Texas in 1881, as be fore stated. Crippled by a white swelling, he was unable to perform military service dur- ing the Civil war. The first six years of his residence in Williamson county he farmed on rented lard; he now owns a desirable body of seventy-six acres, fifty of which are under cultivation; in 1891 he gathered nine- teen bales of cotton, and the following year increased the yield to twenty-seven bales. As the result of years of elose application and excellent management he is in easy cir- cumstances. Ilis farm is well improved, and well stocked with good grades of animals.
John, Lizzie, Fannie and Lavita. In all the relations of life Mr. Croslin has shown him- self a man of the strictest integrity, and has won the entire confidence of all with whom he has been associated.
M. BURRIS, one of the early pio- neer settlers of Texas, and a farmer of
Williamson county, was born in Mis- sonri, November 25, 1815, a son of David and Nellie (Lackey) Burris, natives of New York. The paternal grandfather of our sub- jeet served in the Revolutionary war. David Burris emigrated to Missonri at a very early day, when it was yet a Territory, and for seven years after locating there was obliged to fight the Indians. They lived in forts, and at one time their cabin had a strong puncheon door, in which was a hole to put the hand to open the door. At one time a neighbor of onr subjeet remained alone during the day, and the Indians made a raid on the house. She closed the door, but an Indian ran his hand through the hole, and she ent his hand off with an ax. After the Indians had gone she took the hand and made her escape to the fort. Mr. and Mrs. Burris had a large family of children, of whom our subject was the third child, and he is supposed to be the only one now living. One brother came to Texas and died in Collin county.
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